At Square Enix, they have a problem: Final Fantasy no longer connects with young people. A franchise historically known for connecting with teenagers and young adults is having trouble reaching its target audience. This is evidenced by the latest data from Circana, which states that 70% of players who bought Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in the United States were over 30 years old. Naoki Hamaguchi, the game’s director, claims to be “very aware of the need to consider how we can expand the potential of the Final Fantasy franchise as a whole for the next generation” and that at Square […]
At Square Enix, they have a problem: Final Fantasy no longer connects with young people. A franchise historically known for connecting with teenagers and young adults is struggling to reach its target audience.
Something that is demonstrated by the latest data from Circana, which states that 70% of players who bought Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in the United States were over 30 years old.
Naoki Hamaguchi, the game director, claims to be “very aware of the need to consider how we can expand the potential of the Final Fantasy franchise as a whole for the next generation” and that at Square Enix, when they finish the trilogy of Final Fantasy VII remakes, they want to “think about that expansion towards new audiences“.
On the other hand, this is not a new occurrence among the important leaders in the company. The director of Final Fantasy XIV and producer of Final Fantasy XVI, Naoki Yoshida, has also said something similar in the past. Stating that “the release intervals have stretched so much that some players simply have not had the chance to connect with the series as veteran fans did,” he believes that one of the reasons younger audiences connected with Final Fantasy was its fast release pace.
The numbers fit and do not add up
The data holds up. Between Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy X, the peak of the franchise’s popularity, seven years passed. Between Final Fantasy XII, XIII, XV, and XVI, seventeen years have passed. A whole lifetime for any child, teenager, or young adult.
For this reason, while it is impossible to prove that this is the cause of the franchise’s lack of popularity among young people, it seems to be a likely cause. Whether Square Enix will intervene on this, making more games faster or in another way, remains to be seen. Especially when Final Fantasy XVI, the latest game in the franchise, is from 2023 and a new installment has not yet been announced.
Yoko Taro, the renowned creator of Nier: Automata and Drakengard, has shared reflections on his journey as a video game director, a career that began not out of ambition, but due to a series of fortunate circumstances. In a recent interview, Taro revealed that his appointment as director of Drakengard, his debut in this role, was because his colleague Takuya Iwasaki could not take on the role due to his workload on Resident Evil: Dead Aim. Things came to him that way. He recalls that he was the most vocal member of the team in expressing his opinions, which led to […]
Yoko Taro, the renowned creator of Nier: Automata and Drakengard, has shared reflections on his journey as a video game director, a career that began not out of ambition, but due to a series of fortunate circumstances.
In a recent interview, Taro revealed that his appointment as director of Drakengard, his debut in this role, was due to his colleague Takuya Iwasaki being unable to take on the role because of his workload on Resident Evil: Dead Aim.
Things came to him that way
Remember that he was the most vocal team member in expressing his opinions, which led Cavia to decide that he would take charge of the project. “I didn’t have a great ambition to become a director. Things just happened this way,” Taro points out. This unexpected turn in his career gave Taro the creative freedom needed to build the dark and peculiar worlds that characterize his works.
Taro also reflects on his generation of directors, which he describes as “peculiar,” given that during his time, video games were not as conventional. “There are many odd ones, including me,” he shares, suggesting that this context significantly influenced his style and creative approach.
Thus, despite his success and recognition, Taro continues to see his trajectory as a result of circumstances rather than a clear personal ambition.
Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, has expressed his willingness to consider creating a standalone version of the popular MMORPG, a concept that has intrigued many fans of the franchise. During the recent Fan Festival, Yoshida acknowledged that there are players who believe that an “online Final Fantasy” cannot be considered a “true Final Fantasy.” This division in the perception of the series highlights the complexity of adapting the essence of the franchise to an online multiplayer environment. It’s a joke, but if you want it’s not a joke Yoshida emphasized that the only way to bring […]
Naoki Yoshida, director of Final Fantasy XIV, has expressed his willingness to consider the creation of a standalone version of the popular MMORPG, a concept that has intrigued many fans of the franchise. During the recent Fan Festival, Yoshida acknowledged that there are players who believe that an “online Final Fantasy” cannot be considered a “true Final Fantasy”. This division in the perception of the series highlights the complexity of adapting the essence of the franchise to an online multiplayer environment.
It’s a joke, but if you want, it’s not a joke
Yoshida emphasized that the only way to carry out a Final Fantasy XIV project as an independent game would be through his current team, which has the most experience with the title. However, he also expressed openness to external proposals, although he emphasized that such initiatives would require a team with significant resources and experience in video game development. “If there are people interested in creating a standalone RPG of Final Fantasy, we would be happy to hear from them,” Yoshida commented, while hinting in a half-joking, half-serious tone that it could be a project for him and his team after retiring from FF XIV.
However, he also warned about the possibility that the development of a spinoff could divert his team’s attention from producing new expansions for the current game, something that could displease the player base that has been eager for more content from FF XIV. Thus, while the doors are open to the idea of an independent game, the priority remains the continuous enrichment of the MMORPG itself.
With the growing popularity of solo RPGs within the gaming community, it remains to be seen if there will be players willing to support this initiative, which suggests that Square Enix may be looking for a way to balance the multiplayer experience with the more intimate and personal narrative that characterizes other Final Fantasy titles.
The situation of Final Fantasy 14 has become critical following the release of its expansion Dawntrail, which has received negative reviews. According to an unofficial census compiled by the fan Lucky Bancho, the number of active players has decreased from 930,000 to approximately 770,000. This drop of around 160,000 players is a harsh blow for the community, which was already discussing with concern the need for new content to revitalize the game. There are doubts about its viability. On forums like Reddit, Facebook, and Steam, players express their unease and debate the future of the franchise. A user […]
The situation of Final Fantasy 14 has become critical following the release of its expansion Dawntrail, which has received negative reviews. According to an unofficial census compiled by fan Lucky Bancho, the number of active players has decreased from 930,000 to approximately 770,000. This drop of around 160,000 players is a harsh blow to the community, which was already discussing with concern the need for new content to revitalize the game.
There are doubts about its viability
In forums like Reddit, Facebook, and Steam, players express their concerns and debate the future of the franchise. One user argues that “FF14 cannot afford another failed expansion,” given that Dawntrail has already lost two-thirds of its player base since its peak. The comments suggest that the upcoming announcement of expansion 8.0, scheduled for this week during a Square Enix event, will be crucial to attract players back and change the negative perception surrounding the game.
Players assure that expectations are high. “The new expansion will be announced THIS week,” mentions a player, anticipating that the number of users will increase over time. On the other hand, there is also uncertainty; some doubt the viability of the game, wondering if “this game is dead”.
In addition, Square Enix has taken drastic measures regarding its community, filing a lawsuit against a content creator for harassment. This move reflects a trend towards community moderation in an effort to create a more positive environment. As the situation evolves and with the announcement of 8.0 on the horizon, players hope that Square Enix will listen to their concerns and take action to regain trust and interest in Final Fantasy 14.
The highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4 was confirmed in 2022, but since then, Square Enix has maintained a prolonged silence about the game’s development. The last significant update dates back to May of last year, when some screenshots were shared, ending a three-year drought of information. Fans have been eager for news, but are now only fed by small hints and speculation. Kingdom Hearts 4 could be closer than we think Recently, actor James Woods, known for portraying Hades since the first installment of the game and the […]
The highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 4 was confirmed in 2022, but since then, Square Enix has maintained a prolonged silence regarding the game’s development. The last significant update dates back to May of last year, when some screenshots were shared, ending a three-year drought of information. Fans have been eager for news, but are now only fueled by small hints and speculation.
Kingdom Hearts 4 could be closer than we think
Recently, actor James Woods, known for voicing Hades since the first installment of the game and the animated movie Hercules, posted a somewhat ambiguous tweet that has sparked speculation. In it, he mentioned that he had finished recording something new, which some fans have interpreted as a possible connection to Kingdom Hearts 4. However, this statement lacks concrete details.
It is important to warn the community that, while Woods’ comment may suggest that the work is progressing, there is no clear evidence to support it. For now, the information remains vague and Square Enix has avoided providing clarifications on the matter. The director Tetsuya Nomura himself has indicated that more significant updates could be expected until next year.
The previous experience of Kingdom Hearts fans reminds them that they have been here before: in November, a simple image of Haley Joel Osment, the voice of Sora, sparked speculation that led to no real news. With this in mind, followers are advised to temper their expectations and seek alternatives in other JRPGs while waiting for updates. Hopes for Kingdom Hearts 4 remain alive, but patience will be key.
Square Enix has surprised the gaming community with the announcement of a new project titled Nier: Cosmic Horror, made at midnight on April 1st, a day famous for April Fools’ jokes. This has raised doubts about the veracity of the announcement, as many fans of the Nier series are divided; some believe it is a joke, while others hold out hope for a possible new horror game within the successful franchise. It is an April Fool’s Day that has not been well received The viral message, which includes […]
Square Enix has surprised the gaming community with the announcement of a new project, titled Nier: Cosmic Horror, made at midnight on April 1st, a day famous for April Fools’ jokes. This has raised doubts about the veracity of the announcement, as many fans of the Nier series are divided; some believe it is a joke, while others hold out hope for a possible new horror game within the successful franchise.
It’s an April Fool’s Day that hasn’t been very funny
The viral message, which includes an intriguing video featuring a robotic creature with a tentacle head and the iconic face of Emil’s mask, raises both existential and thematic questions: Born from nothing, is it hope? Or is it despair in the name of salvation?. This has led to speculation about the content and direction of the game.
The creator of Nier, Yoko Taro, has recently been in contact with The Weeknd, who has expressed his admiration for the series. Social media has exploded with conversations about this collaboration, which could elevate the franchise’s profile even further. While this social uproar continues, Yoko Taro has also remained active in his posts, sharing trivial moments from his daily life, which contrasts with the expectation and tension surrounding Nier: Cosmic Horror.
The announcement comes at a crucial time, as Nier: Automata has sold over 10 million copies, suggesting that fans may have reasons to be optimistic. However, due to the nature of the announcement and the context of its release, many are wondering if it is truly a new chapter in the saga or simply a marketing strategy disguised as a joke.
One of the most anticipated news for fans of the Final Fantasy saga has resurfaced: the animated series titled Final Fantasy: Black Mages Legacy is officially in production. This project, initiated by Cyber Group Studios, had been left in limbo after the company’s closure, but has been rescued by the producer Eurovisual, which has confirmed its development. The series will consist of 10 episodes, each 22 minutes long. An audience that was not there for its launch Despite Square Enix, the iconic developer of the franchise, granting its license and approval, it will not participate directly […]
One of the most anticipated news for fans of the Final Fantasy saga has resurfaced: the animated series titled Final Fantasy: Black Mages Legacy is officially in production. This project, initiated by Cyber Group Studios, had been left in limbo after the company’s closure, but has been rescued by the producer Eurovisual, which has confirmed its development. The series will consist of 10 episodes, each lasting 22 minutes.
An audience that was not there for its launch
Despite the fact that Square Enix, the iconic developer of the franchise, has granted its license and approval, it will not participate directly in the production. This approach allows the series to maintain the essence of the saga, although it targets a family audience, specifically children aged 6 to 13, which poses a friendlier and more accessible narrative.
The story is chronologically set after the events of Final Fantasy IX, and follows a group of Black Mages, known as the ‘children of the hero Vivi’. The protagonists, Imel, Koln, Luciola, Théa, Fala, and Doc, live in Alexandria, where their daily lives are interrupted by a mysterious discovery. Koln discovers Mel, a figure frozen in his inn, which seems to be linked to the tragic legacy of his father.
There is still no confirmed release date, leaving fans waiting for more details. The production seems to be a spiritual sequel that aims to keep alive the rich story of the Final Fantasy IX universe, a title that has left an indelible mark on the gaming community and is still available on multiple platforms, from PC to modern consoles.
Although this series is not the expected remake of Final Fantasy IX, its development ensures that the world of this beloved game continues to expand, allowing both new and old fans to enjoy new adventures in an environment they already know and love.
When we think of Square Enix, we think of JRPGs. After years of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, with their greatest efforts dedicated to that particular genre, it’s normal for everything to be associated with that genre. But among their ranks, they have some renowned creators who have been involved in franchises from genres very different from JRPGs. For example, visual novels. And in particular, detective stories. Because the best detective game of the last five years, which you probably haven’t played, has received a sequel. And it is as interesting or more so than […]
When we think of Square Enix, we think of JRPGs. After years of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, with their greatest efforts dedicated to that particular genre, it’s normal for everything to be associated with that genre. But among their ranks, they have some renowned creators who have been involved in franchises from genres very different from JRPGs. For example, visual novels. And in particular, detective stories.
Because the best detective game of the last five years, which you probably haven’t played, has received a sequel. And it is as interesting, if not more so, than the original game. Its name is Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, but the story of these games is as interesting as the story of its creator, who, although unknown in the West, is quite an institution in Japan. Also among JRPG fans.
A Big Man in Japan
The creator of the game is Takanari Ishiyama, which may not mean anything to you, and that’s normal. Although he has been working in the video game industry since at least the era of the first PlayStation, his name is not one that has resonated in the same way as other famous names like Shigeru Miyamoto or Hideo Kojima. In fact, he started working for the latter at Konami.Working in the sound department, he was responsible for the editing, composition, and adjustments of the sound effects and voices of Metal Gear Solid, as well as handling the sound effects for two little-known games in the West by Kojima: the first two volumes of Tokimeki Memorial Drama Series. Two visual novels spinoffs of a famous dating sim from that era.
Although later he would also work on design tasks in the racing game franchise Tokyo Xtreme Racer, which is little known in the West but extremely popular in Japan, he would join Square Enix in 2005, where he would work on several major titles, as director and screenwriter, particularly for mobile platforms. Highlighting his work as director on Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wing and Blood of Bahamut, for Nintendo DS, two of the most underrated games on the platform, he proved to be one of the most talented authors in the company. Even if he is also one of the least known.
But before that, Ishiyama had already gained significant fame. At least, in terms of Japan. Because three years prior, he had started a franchise of seventeen installments that was a massive success on mobile. And it attracted a new audience to video games.
The man who made mystery great
Ishiyama published in 2002 for mobile phones Tantei Kibukawa Ryōsuke Jikentan Vol. 1: Kamen Gensō Satsujin Jiken, which we could loosely translate as The story of the case of detective Ryosuke Kibukawa: the masked fantasy murder. This would be the first installment of the Ryosuke Kibukawa detective series, where an employee of a video game company dies while playing the RPG of a rival company. Having to discover how much of the claim that the video game is cursed is real and how much is, in fact, that someone had motives to murder him.
Being a tremendous success, especially among the young female audience, what I would highlight about the series Tantei Kibukawa Ryōsuke Jikentan is that it adds a unique twist to classic detective stories. All of them address social issues, have some kind of occult twist, and place a great emphasis on discovering how much truth there is in the esoteric part and how much in the crime.
Unfortunately, if you want to play any of the seventeen titles of Tantei Kibukawa Ryōsuke Jikentan, you will need to know Japanese. Although they are easily available on Steam at an excellent price thanks to the company G-MODE, they have never been officially or unofficially translated into any other language besides Japanese. But what we do have are the games that, inspired by Tantei Kibukawa Ryōsuke Jikentan, with a much larger budget and, to be honest, even less publicity, Ishiyama has made for Square Enix: Paranormasight.
Published in March 2023 on Switch, PC, and mobile platforms, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo offers us a most intriguing premise: in the Sumida district of Tokyo, a group of people is trying to unveil the Seven Mysteries of Honjo, a series of urban legends that seem to be behind a ritual that would allow them to resurrect the dead. Soon we will discover that all of this is true and that each of the mysteries is associated with a curse that can kill a human being if the right conditions are met, and that this is necessary to accumulate enough souls to bring someone back to life. Always for a price.
Our role here is that of a detective and facilitator. By putting ourselves in the shoes of each character in the story, being able to travel back in time and changing the order and the events themselves, we must ensure that they achieve their goals and do not reach dead ends, all while uncovering the secrets behind the mysterious disappearances and deaths surrounding each of them.
The game captivated both critics and audiences, both in Japan and the West. Even though it was in Japan where it stood out the most. Winning the Excellence Award at the 2023 Japan Game Awards, it was only a matter of time before Square Enix allowed Ishiyama to make a sequel. And it seems that the time has come.
Named Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, the structure is the same and our purpose has not changed. But now instead of being in a rural neighborhood of Tokyo, we are on the island of Kameshima, in the most remote part of Japan. Suffering from different curses among themselves, our goal will be to uncover the truth behind the secret of the Ise mermaids. And while those who have been able to play it have loved it, with even greater critical enthusiasm than its original release, you won’t have to wait to try it: the game comes out on February 19, 2026. As of the publication date of this article. And without needing to play Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, although we recommend you do so anyway, what’s stopping you from diving into that incredible mystery?
Square Enix has made a significant shift towards the development of multiplatform games, opening the doors to greater accessibility for its most iconic titles. After several years of exclusives for specific consoles, the company has decided to release its games on various platforms, including PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S. This evolution began with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which is already available on both Switch 2 and Microsoft consoles. They believe that accessibility should be a priority. The director of Rebirth, Naoki Hamaguchi, has confirmed that both this title and its […]
Square Enix has made a significant shift towards multi-platform game development, opening the doors to greater accessibility for its most iconic titles. After several years of exclusives for specific consoles, the company has decided to release its games on various platforms, including PlayStation 5, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X|S. This evolution began with Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, which is already available on both Switch 2 and Microsoft consoles.
They believe that accessibility should be a priority
The director of Rebirth, Naoki Hamaguchi, has confirmed that both this title and its sequel, Part 3, are scheduled to be released simultaneously on multiple platforms, which could happen between 2027 and 2028. This strategy reinforces Square Enix’s commitment to eliminating exclusivity agreements, a decision that has been supported by legendary figures within the company, such as Yoshinori Kitase, the historic producer of Final Fantasy, and Yuji Horii, the creator of Dragon Quest. Both have expressed their vision that video games should be accessible to a wide audience, without barriers to entry.
Kitase emphasized that improvements in hardware specifications have allowed developers to maintain high standards of quality across different systems. As technology advances, it is possible to offer top-notch gaming experiences regardless of the platform chosen by the player.
Additionally, the support for Xbox Cloud Gaming and the Xbox Play Anywhere functionality have added an extra level of flexibility, allowing players to transfer their progress between devices, even on handhelds like the ROG Xbox Ally. This strategy not only broadens access to games but also seems to position Square Enix on a more competitive path within the renewed interest in JRPGs.
The video game industry is undergoing a considerable transformation thanks to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in various aspects of game development. Companies like Square Enix and Krafton are heavily investing in the use of this technology in their production processes, seeking to improve both the quality of their titles and the player experience. The ghost player that helps you when you get stuck One of the most intriguing developments comes from Sony, which has registered a patent for an innovative system that offers assistance to players through an AI-controlled avatar. This system, called […]
The video game industry is undergoing a considerable transformation thanks to the implementation of Artificial Intelligence in various aspects of game development. Companies like Square Enix and Krafton are heavily investing in the use of this technology in their production processes, seeking to improve both the quality of their titles and the player experience.
The ghost player that helps you when you get stuck
One of the most intriguing developments comes from Sony, which has registered a patent for an innovative system that offers assistance to players through an AI-controlled avatar. This system, called AI-generated Ghost Player, allows users to choose between two operating modes: Guide Mode, which provides solutions to game challenges, and Complete Mode, where the AI takes full control of the character to overcome obstacles, preventing players from getting stuck in the gameplay.
It is important to note that although this patent has been filed, it does not guarantee the implementation of the technology in future games, and Sony has not yet revealed concrete plans to allow AI to play for users. The gaming community may see this as an optional tool designed to enhance the gaming experience, but it also raises debates about the impact it would have on game design and player satisfaction.
In addition, Sony has filed another patent that would allow real-time modification of video game or movie content, which has raised concerns about the possibility of AI-managed censorship. This aspect has been viewed critically, raising questions about the ethics of these technological implementations in digital entertainment.
